From June 1942 Dickens was the Commanding Officer of HM MTB 234 and the Senior Officer of 21st MTB Flotilla when, in August 1942, he was awarded the MBE for saving his mined ship through damage control, and the Distinguished Service Cross in December 1942 for attacks on enemy shipping. In July 1943 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for skillful and daring attacks "in enemy coastal waters".[1][3]

Dickens was the Commanding Officer of HMS Blencathra[4] from April 1944 to July 1945 and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 20 March 1945 with seniority from 1 December 1944. He then transferred to the Staff of RN College, Eaton and later RN College, Dartmouth, where he served from July 1945 to 1948. Promotion to Commander came in June 1947 and he served on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Far East Station, until April 1952 when he was appointed Commanding Officer of HMS Gabbard, and from 1953 to April 1954 of HMS Scorpion. From April 1955 to January 1956 he was based at HMS President, a shore establishment, and was promoted to Captain in December 1955 before being appointed Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff (Plans), Allied Forces Mediterranean (NATO) at Malta from October 1956 to January 1957.[1]

Peter Dickens was the President of the Dickens Fellowship, a worldwide association of people who share an interest in the life and works of Charles Dickens, and was President of the Coastal Forces Association. With his wife, Mary Alice Blagrove (the daughter of Rear-Admiral Henry Blagrove),[5] he is the grandfather of the actor Harry Lloyd and uncle to the actor/performer Gerald Charles Dickens.[6]

11 June 1942 - Mentioned in Dispatches - Lieutenant Peter Gerald Charles Dickens, Royal Navy - As Celebration of His Majesty's Birthday, for outstanding zeal, patience and cheerfulness, and for never failing to set an example of wholehearted devotion to duty, without which the high tradition of the Royal Navy could not be upheld.[8]

13 July 1943 - Companion of the Distinguished Service Order - Lieutenant Peter Gerald Charles Dickens, M.B.E., D.S.C., Royal Navy - For skill and daring in many successful attacks on enemy forces, made in enemy waters, whils serving in light coastal craft.[13]